The Kouffin Kanecke Co. will perform Sunday, Jan. 19, as part of a two-day celebration in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. Admission will be free for all.

Photo: Contributed Photo

The Kouffin Kanecke Co. will perform Sunday, Jan. 19, as part of a...

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Activity tables for children and adults will be part of a two-day celebration in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History Jan. 19-20. Admission will be free for all.

Photo: Contributed Photo

Activity tables for children and adults will be part of a two-day...

Image 3 of 4

Special activities for children will be part of a two-day celebration in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History Jan. 19-20. Admission will be free for all.

Photo: Contributed Photo

Special activities for children will be part of a two-day...

Image 4 of 4

Percussionists Michael Mills and Brian Jarawa Gray will be featured at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day festivities at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven.

Photo: Contributed Photo

Percussionists Michael Mills and Brian Jarawa Gray will be featured...

Remembering the life's work of Martin Luther King Jr. -- his nonviolent fight for civil rights and social justice -- will be celebrated with several substantive programs throughout the region.

Leading the way is Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History's 18th annual observance, which combines the gaiety of a birthday celebration with numerous programs that examine King's "vision of environmental and social justice for all, regardless of race or income." King was born Jan. 15, 1929, and, at age 39, assassinated by a gunman on April 4, 1968, as he stood on a hotel balcony in Memphis, Tenn.

Winner of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle against racial inequality, King will be the subject of two days of events: Sunday, Jan. 19, noon to 4:30 p.m., and Monday (observed as a federal holiday) from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During the celebration, admission will be free.

"Events and activities will help demonstrate how Dr. King strove to raise awareness about public health concerns and urban environmental issues that disproportionately affect minorities and low-income communities," said Melanie Brigockas, museum spokeswoman.

"Local organizations will be on hand to show how environmental justice also entails equal access to relief and community participation in the decisions of government and industry," she added.

More Information

For more events celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this year observed on Monday, Jan. 20, see the Goings On list.

Monday's featured event is the annual Invitational Zannette Lewis Environmental and Social Justice Poetry Slam, which brings together poets from around the country to compete. A Community Poetry Open Mic also will be offered; registration is required. Also featured on Monday will be special performances and a participatory drum-circle finale led by Michael Mills. World Stage performers include White-Eyed Lizard, Taikoza, Solar Youth Drummers and Brian Jarawa Gray and Friends.

More MLK events

IN RIDGEFIELD, Serendipity Chorale visits Temple Shearith Israel for "Black/Jewish Spirituals" Friday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. The concert is part of a Music Shabbat (or sabbath service).

Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray, said: "The message of Dr. Martin Luther King rings true today, and through the power of music, his spirit still inspires us. The annual Black/Jewish Spirituals Music Shabbat with the Serendipity Chorale has been a beloved musical and spiritual event for more than 12 years at Temple Shearith Israel."

The program will be repeated in part at the Ridgefield 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, at the Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge.

IN GREENWICH, the Bruce Museum's Martin Luther King Jr. celebration will feature dancers from Arts for Learning/Hip Hop Dimensions at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. According to the museum: "While electrifying audiences, they inspire youth to think of dancing as a positive outlet for artistic expression. Audiences are educated on the history, culture, foundation and the dance styles of hip-hop."

Visitors will be invited to make "I have a dream ..." buttons. Events and programs are included in regular admission. The museum is at 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich; www.brucemuseum.org, 203-869-0376.